{
  "id": 19322766,
  "title": "Nobel-winning UK scientist launches programme to develop hepatitis C vaccine in Hong Kong",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/nobel-winning-uk-scientist-launches-programme-to-develop-hepatitis-c",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-10T11:10:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373966/nobel-winning-uk-scientist-launches-programme-develop-hepatitis-c-vaccine-hong-kong"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nobel-winning British virologist Sir Michael Houghton has established a programme to create the world's first hepatitis C vaccine while working at Baptist University in Hong Kong. Houghton, who shared the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for co-discovering the hepatitis C virus, moved to Hong Kong after the United States and Europe reduced their science spending. He joined the university after more than four decades in North America, seeking funding and access to Chinese strains of the virus. Houghton plans to begin phase one trials in 2028 in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing, with the goal of a worldwide vaccine by 2030. The vaccine would initially target high-risk groups such as healthcare workers, newborns, and individuals with multiple sexual partners, costing around HK$1,600 per dose.",
  "summary": "A British Nobel-winning virologist has launched a programme to develop the world’s first hepatitis C vaccine after joining a university in Hong Kong, tapping the city’s research funding, access to Chinese strains of the virus and partnerships with mainland drug-makers. Sir Michael Houghton, who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the co-discovery of the hepatitis C virus, said…",
  "key_points": [
    "Sir Michael Houghton launches hepatitis C vaccine program in Hong Kong.",
    "Nobel Prize winner co-discovered hepatitis C virus in 2020.",
    "Phase one trials planned for 2028 in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}